Passé Simple – Past Historic Tense in French

Key takeaways

• The passé simple is a French past tense mainly used in literature, history, and formal writing, not in everyday speech.
• It corresponds to the English simple past (he spoke, they finished).
• Regular verbs follow distinct endings: -er → -ai, -as, -a, -âmes, -âtes, -èrent; -ir/-re → -is, -is, -it, -îmes, -îtes, -irent.
• Many common verbs are irregular in this tense (être → il fut, avoir → il eut, faire → il fit).
• Today, the passé composé is used instead in conversation, but the passé simple remains essential for reading novels, history, and journalism.

Imagine opening a French novel. You see “Il entra dans la pièce, regarda autour de lui, et s’assit.” Even if you’ve learned the passé composé, this form looks different. That’s because it’s the passé simple, a literary past tense used to narrate completed actions in formal or historical contexts.

For learners, mastering the passé simple isn’t about speaking—it’s about reading comprehension and cultural literacy. Let’s explore its rules, endings, and examples.

What Is the Passé Simple in French?

The passé simple (past historic tense) is a narrative past. It tells what happened in a formal, completed way. It often translates as the English simple past:

• Il parla → He spoke
• Ils finirent → They finished
• Elle vendit → She sold

You’ll encounter it in:

• Literature (novels, short stories, fairy tales)
• Historical accounts (Napoléon entra à Moscou en 1812.)
• Journalism (especially older or formal newspapers)

But in spoken French, the passé simple has been replaced by the passé composé. So learners focus on it for reading, not for daily conversation.

How to Form the Passé Simple

The passé simple has its own set of endings, different from the présent, imparfait, or passé composé.

Passé Simple Endings

Conjugation Examples

Regular Verbs

Irregular Verbs

1

When to Use the Passé Simple

Unlike the passé composé, which dominates everyday speech, the passé simple is restricted to formal and narrative writing.

• Historical writing: Louis XIV régna pendant plus de soixante-dix ans. → Louis XIV reigned for over seventy years.
• Literary narration: Elle ouvrit la fenêtre et aperçut le jardin. → She opened the window and saw the garden.
• Fairy tales: Il était une fois une princesse qui vécut dans un château. → Once upon a time there lived a princess in a castle.

Passé Simple vs. Passé Composé

Both tenses express completed past actions. The difference lies in register and usage:

• Passé simple → literary, historical, formal.
• Passé composé → conversational, everyday speech.

Example:

• Victor Hugo écrivit Les Misérables en 1862. → Victor Hugo wrote Les Misérables in 1862. (passé simple, literary style)
• Hugo a écrit Les Misérables en 1862. → Hugo wrote Les Misérables in 1862. (passé composé, spoken style)

A simple way to remember: if you’re speaking, use passé composé; if you’re reading, expect passé simple.

Common Mistakes with the Passé Simple

1. Mixing endings with imparfait or passé composé 
   
   • ❌ Je parlait instead of je parlai.
   • ✅ Always learn the unique endings: -ai, -as, -a…
2. Overusing it in conversation 
   
   • ❌ Hier, je finis mon travail. (odd in spoken French)
   • ✅ Hier, j’ai fini mon travail. (correct in spoken French)
3. Forgetting irregular forms 
   
   • ❌ Il eu instead of il eut.
   • ✅ Memorize common irregular verbs like être, avoir, faire.

Exercises: Practice the Passé Simple

1. Fill in the blanks: 
   
   • Hier soir, le roi ________ (parler) à son peuple.
   • Les soldats ________ (venir) à minuit.
   • Elle ________ (finir) sa lettre rapidement.
2. Translate into French: 
   
   • He wrote a letter.
   • They were born in Paris.
   • She had a dream.
3. Correct the mistakes: 
   
   • Nous parlions un livre hier. → ________
   • Ils finirent leurs devoir hier. → ________

Answers:

1. parla, vinrent, finit
2. Il écrivit une lettre, Ils naquirent à Paris, Elle eut un rêve
3. Nous lûmes un livre hier | Ils finirent leurs devoirs hier

Tips for Mastering the Passé Simple

• Focus on reading comprehension. Don’t stress about speaking it—you’ll almost never use it in conversation.
• Memorize the most frequent irregular verbs (être, avoir, faire, dire, venir).
• Read French literature—short stories, fables, fairy tales—to see the tense in action.
• Compare with other tenses. Understanding the passé simple helps you appreciate why the passé composé dominates in modern speech.

When learning, combine grammar study with strategies for long-term progress. For example, our guide to learning French effectively shows how to balance grammar with speaking practice. And if you’re wondering how long it will take to master French verb tenses, check out our overview on how long it takes to learn French fluently.

Summary

The passé simple is a literary past tense in French, used in novels, history, and formal writing. While it corresponds to the English simple past, it is rare in speech and mostly replaced by the passé composé. Still, recognizing it is crucial for reading literature and historical texts.

If you want to practice the passé simple alongside conversational tenses, try reading short stories while you learn French with Promova. Our lessons and AI role-plays help you focus on practical speaking skills, while guides and resources deepen your understanding of literary grammar. Over time, you’ll naturally distinguish between everyday forms and the elevated style of the passé simple.